Guide to Meeting & Event Planning in Raleigh, NC

Hotels	77
Total Sleeping Rooms	9,316
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	400
Committable Meeting Rooms*	44
Convention Center Space	219,318 Sq. Ft.
Largest Exhibit Space	150,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	32,617 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $111
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $59
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $150
*Maximum for a single hotel

Raleigh, NC Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to Cvent's Raleigh Meeting and Event Planning Guide - a Raleigh city guide for meeting professionals. Raleigh's smart and entrepreneurial populace combined with its rapidly developing downtown area have secured its position as a prime destination for business, technology, and tourism as well as a favorite meeting location any time of the year.

One of the crowning achievements of Raleigh's recent renaissance is the LEED Silver-certified Raleigh Convention Center, a catalyst for development in the area. The convention center is conveniently located in the heart of downtown, placing convention guests within a few blocks of more than 1,200 hotel rooms, including the 400-room Raleigh Marriott City Center located next door and the adjacent, 353-room Sheraton Raleigh Hotel and 175-room Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown. (Other luxurious hotels in the Raleigh area bring the destination's accommodations total to over 15,500 rooms.) The 500,000-square-foot facility features 150,000 square feet of exhibit space, 20 meeting rooms totaling more than 32,000 square feet, and a stately 32,000-square-foot grand ballroom with an adjacent reception area. Every space, large and small, is equipped with the latest communications and production technology.

The Cree Shimmer Wall is a 9,284-square-foot piece of art adorning the side of the Raleigh Convention Center. The piece looks high-tech, but it's not: This spectacular piece is made up of 79,464 light and dark aluminum squares that change shape and disappear as the squares flap in the wind. The wall depicts an image of an oak tree and has become a symbol for Raleigh, the City of Oaks. It is backlit at night by 56 light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, fixtures that can be programmed to flash and display more than a million different colors.

Raleigh offers several outstanding attractions that are also open to hosting meetings and events. The North Carolina Museum of Art is one such facility whose West Building is a 127,000-square-foot wing with day-lit galleries and exquisite outdoor sculpture gardens. Up to 1,500 guests can enjoy an event at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, including event space within its exhibits such as the Coastal North Carolina and Mountains to the Sea permanent exhibits. In 2012, this museum debuted an 80,000-square-foot wing, the Nature Research Center (NRC), which brings research scientists and their work into the public eye. The centerpiece of the NRC is the SECU Daily Planet, an immersive, three-story multimedia space that links virtual to real nature and is the site of live programming on breaking science news. Inside the NRC is the William G. Ross, Jr., Environmental Conference Center, which can accommodate up to 225 people.

To celebrate Raleigh's rich past and enjoy its inviting outdoors, the Mordecai Historic Park, where guests can find the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson and the oldest residence in Raleigh on its original foundation, offers several sites available for private events. For dinners and cocktail receptions, Caffe Luna offers elegant rooms for private dining complete with hardwood floors and graceful archways, as well as a candlelit terrace.

With the opening of the Lonnie Poole Golf Course at North Carolina State University in spring of 2009 and the 2014 addition of its clubhouse, complete with dining room, downtown area meeting attendees have a new option for after-session breaks and receptions. The 6,915-yard, par 71 course is an Arnold Palmer Signature Course and brings Raleigh's public and semi-private golf course tally to 18.

About Raleigh, NC / Additional Info

The capital city of North Carolina, Raleigh is situated on the gently rolling hills of North Carolina's Piedmont area. Named for English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, the city was founded in 1792 after the state legislature chose the site for its new capital. In addition to performing the big business of state government, Raleigh quickly emerged as a pioneer in education with the establishment of the all-female St. Mary's School in 1842. Today Raleigh is home to research powerhouse North Carolina State University and 10 other colleges and universities. On the business side, the area surrounds a portion of Research Triangle Park, one of the world's largest research parks and a major center for high-tech and biotechnology research and textile development. Likewise NC State's Centennial Campus is an increasingly renowned, 1,000-acre business park with a focus on STEM innovation.

Due to the success of Research Triangle Park, coupled with its rising reputation as a site for higher education and smarter workforce, Raleigh is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and is the second most populous city in North Carolina. Over 430,000 people call the city home, and over one million reside in the Raleigh metropolitan area.

Raleigh has more than 40 top-ranked cultural attractions that are free of charge to the public. Stroll through Greek and Roman sculptures and paintings by Claude Monet and Sandro Botticelli at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Explore the re-created interior of a 1920s North Carolina drugstore and see Richard Petty's stock car at the North Carolina Museum of History. Bask in the city's pleasant weather by stopping at one of its over 220 public parks, award-winning gardens, lakes, and golf courses, from the pomegranate trees and grape arbor at the Joel Lane Museum House Gardens to the Japanese Garden at the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University. When the sun goes down, savor a delicious meal, whether at one of North Carolina's trademark barbecue establishments or one of the city's emerging Italian, Mediterranean or Pan-Asian eateries. End the night with a stop at the trendy downtown Warehouse District, where cavernous brick buildings now house residential lofts, art galleries, restaurants, and nightlife such as Crank Arm Brewing.

New downtown additions have created a number of entertainment options for visitors during both the day and night. The 6,000-seat Red Hat Amphitheater programs outdoor concerts April through Oct., under the shadow of the Raleigh Convention Center's Shimmer Wall. The Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, a major triumph of the city's early downtown revitalization efforts, draws enthusiastic crowds with high-caliber entertainment in four performance halls.

Raleigh, NC Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)
Convention Center(s):

Raleigh Convention Center

Hotel at Convention Center? Yes
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 1,200

Airport(s):

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
62
Population
451,066
Restaurants
79
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
7.25%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
15-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Raleigh, NC

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Greensboro, NC	77 mi	1 hr 23 min	2 hr 29 min	USD $412+
Charlotte, NC	166 mi	2 hr 41 min	53 min	USD $616+
Richmond, VA	170 mi	2 hr 44 min	2 hr 37 min	USD $372+
Norfolk, VA	185 mi	2 hr 54 min	2 hr 41 min	USD $377+
Greenville, SC	264 mi	4 hr	2 hr 25 min	USD $300+
Washington, DC	277 mi	4 hr 12 min	50 min	USD $228+
Atlanta, GA	405 mi	6 hr 6 min	1 hr 23 min	USD $280+

Raleigh, NC Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	50	53	62	72	79	85	89	87	81	72	62	53
Avg. Low (°F)	30	31	38	47	55	63	68	67	60	48	39	32
Rec. High (°F)	79	84	90	95	97	104	105	105	104	98	88	79
Rec. Low (°F)	-9	5	11	23	29	38	48	46	37	19	11	4
Rainfall (in)	3.5	3.5	3.7	2.8	3.8	3.6	4.4	4.4	3.1	3.0	2.9	3.1

Located in North Carolina's Piedmont area, Raleigh enjoys a subtropical climate with mild, pleasant temperatures in the spring, fall, and winter. Summers are hot and humid with frequent highs in the upper 80s and low 90s. Winter temperatures range from the low to mid-30s to the low 50s; however, occasional warmer winter days are not uncommon.

With an average annual rainfall of 45.23 inches, Raleigh's rainiest months are July and August. Winter brings an average of 4.7 inches of snow, in addition to freezing rain, sleet, and an occasional major ice storm. The best time to visit Raleigh is late spring or early winter, when temperatures are still mild and precipitation is low.

Meeting Planning in Raleigh, NC

Raleigh Convention Center

Raleigh's ambitious downtown renaissance reached a milestone in 2008 with the opening of the much-anticipated Raleigh Convention Center. Located at the intersection of South Salisbury Street and West Cabarrus Street across from the regionally acclaimed Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, the center's ideal downtown location provides maximum convenience and appeal to meeting planners.

Striking both inside and out, the 500,000-square-foot convention center welcomes guests with a grand lobby lined by floor-to-ceiling windows. From the 4,100-square-foot mezzanine level, visitors can easily access all points of the center, including the 150,000-square-foot exhibit hall with room for 790 booths or 15,000 people theater-style. The center also features 20 flexible meeting rooms, ranging in size from 701 square feet to 5,538 square feet, and a 32,000-square-foot grand ballroom adjacent to a reception area from which guests enjoy panoramic views of the city.

The Silver LEED-certified convention center has implemented a number of green initiatives. Among its efforts are exit signs using highly efficient LED lamps; low flow toilets and faucets; recycling procedures for all glass, metal, plastic, and corrugated cardboard; and the donation of leftover banquet food to local food banks. Even the building itself is eco-friendly, as 100 percent of the center's steel is recycled product and over 89 percent of the construction services were contracted from within North Carolina.

From the exhibit hall to the smallest meeting room, the convention center features cutting-edge technology, including state-of-the-art lighting and sound, high-speed Internet access, Wi-Fi throughout the building, and remote satellite capabilities. The convention center's in-house catering staff is managed by Centerplate, a leading caterer in major cities such as New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C. An attached garage has 900 parking spaces, and more than 4,000 parking spaces can be found within a two-block radius.

Adjacent to the convention center, the 4 Star, 400-room Raleigh Marriott City Center offers 15,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space, and a 200-space parking garage. Additional overnight accommodations can be found less than a block away at the 353-room Sheraton Hotel. (The Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown opens its 175 extended-stay rooms in Summer 2017.)

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Raleigh, NC Airport Information

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)

Approximate taxi fare: $47 USD

Located 14 miles from downtown, RDU International Airport combines southern hospitality and high-tech amenities to create a positive experience for travelers. Served by nine major airlines, RDU International provides 400 daily flights from nearly 40 top destinations, including international service from London, Paris, and Toronto. Both Terminals 1 and 2 at RDU are fully modernized and more welcoming than ever before, after redevelopment and modernization projects during recent years.

Outside the terminals, a massive, abstract sculpture of steel airplane wings and a swirling elliptical band of blue light provides a dramatic welcome to the region. The sculpture celebrates the state's rich aviation heritage and the 100th anniversary of powered flight by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Artwork throughout the airport reflects the theme "Mind-made, Hand-made" and showcases the talents and craftsmanship of local artists, including North Carolina's Native American Indians.

Travelers are free to explore The Shops of RDU, which feature casual restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, local retailers, and national chains such as Brooks Brothers. Airport parking facilities include nearly 10,000 spaces in the Daily Lot and over 1,000 spaces in the Hourly Lot. The Hourly lot charges $1 per hour with a maximum $24 charge, and the Daily lot charges $2 per hour with a maximum $12 charge. A Park and Ride option is also available with a $6 per day charge.

Airline carriers serving the Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Air Canada
Alaska
Allegiant

American Airlines
Delta Airlines
Frontier Airlines

JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
United Airlines

Raleigh, NC Train Information

Raleigh Amtrak Station

Raleigh's Amtrak station is the second busiest in the southeast, servicing three trains: the Silver Star, Carolinian, and Piedmont. The Silver Star runs on the Silver Service/Palmetto lines, which include stops between New York City, Georgia, and Florida. The Carolinian travels daily between NYC and Charlotte, with stops in Richmond, Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, while the Piedmont runs daily between Raleigh and Charlotte. (A second Amtrak station in the area serves passengers arriving in or departing from the town of Cary.)

Raleigh, NC Ground Transportation

GoRaleigh

GoRaleigh (formerly Capital Area Transit) provides service throughout the city of Raleigh.

Buses

GoRaleigh operates 30 bus routes, 26 of which are fixed routes serving downtown. Hours and schedules vary based on route. Fare is $1 for adults and $0.50 for seniors and people with disabilities. Day, five-day and 31-day passes are available.

R-LINE

The R-LINE is an eco-friendly approach to urban transportation. This free circulator connects visitors to the restaurants, retail, entertainment venues, museums, hotels and parking facilities around downtown Raleigh. Hybrid buses run approximately every 15 minutes Monday-Wednesday, 7 am-11 pm, Thursday-Saturday, 7 am-2:15 am and Sunday, 1-8 pm.

Historic Raleigh Trolley

The city of Raleigh operates a trolley service using replicas of streetcars that traveled Raleigh's streets until 1932.

The Historic Raleigh Trolley Tour operates every Saturday, March to December, at 11 am, noon, 1 pm and 2 pm. This narrated tour lasts one hour and departs from Mordecai Historic Park on the hour. Tickets are $4 for children (ages 7-17) and $10 for adults. Tickets for children ages six and under are free.

Public Shuttle Service

GoTriangle (formerly Triangle Transit Authority) provides shuttle service between downtown Raleigh and the airport. One-way fare is $2.25 for adults. A Regional Day Pass, good for travel on all public transportation systems in the Triangle area, is $4.50.

Car Rentals

10 major airport rental car companies, including Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty, are centrally located at RDU International Airport, a short shuttle bus ride from the terminals. Shuttles run every 15 minutes and stop at the curb near the baggage claim area of each terminal. Thrifty Rental Car's facility is located off airport premises and offers shuttle service for customers.

Taxis

RDU Taxi, Inc. provides service to and from the airport. The typical taxi fare for the 14-mile trip to downtown Raleigh averages $41.50. The fare is based on a $4 drop charge and $1.95 each mile. There is a $0.50 charge for each piece of luggage over three pieces per person.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Greensboro, NC	77 mi	1 hr 23 min	2 hr 29 min	USD $412+
Charlotte, NC	166 mi	2 hr 41 min	53 min	USD $616+
Richmond, VA	170 mi	2 hr 44 min	2 hr 37 min	USD $372+
Norfolk, VA	185 mi	2 hr 54 min	2 hr 41 min	USD $377+
Greenville, SC	264 mi	4 hr	2 hr 25 min	USD $300+
Washington, DC	277 mi	4 hr 12 min	50 min	USD $228+
Atlanta, GA	405 mi	6 hr 6 min	1 hr 23 min	USD $280+